While making your own bath and beauty products from scratch is tons of fun, it’s not always practical. Sometimes we just don’t have time to plan or shop for ingredients. To help you get the most out of the beauty products you do have, I’ve put together a collection of the best beauty hacks for your skin care & beauty routine.

2. Plump up dry, dehydrated or maturing skin with a hyaluronic acid serum. Make your own with just 2-ingredients and save SO much money on your anti-aging skin care products. (Saving money is by far one of my favorite beauty hacks! Products seem to cost more as we age!)

4. Candida out of control? Use a dog ear rinse with salicylic acid daily in a spray bottle to help kill off candida. (This works on dogs too! A little tip I recently got from my vet after my dog had a severe allergic reaction and developed yeast on his back hind legs.)

5. Buying sheet masks can get expensive fast. Make your own sheets masks instead and save money for other things you love. (Can you believe you can make your own custom sheet masks for less than 10¢ each?)

10. Use neem oil to get rid of cold sores fast. Simply apply neem oil directly to the affected area a few times a day and watch them disappear almost overnight due to neem oils strong antiviral properties . You can also prevent cold sores from forming if you try this same process at that first sign of a tingle. You can also make your own cold sore therapy lip balm!

11. Neem oil can also be used as a spot treatment for acne. You know those painful red bumps with acne hiding underneath the skin? Neem oil pulls those out and dries them up in no time flat!

12. Hate waiting on your nail polish to dry? Dunk your nails in a bowl of ice water after painting them. This helps the nail polish set quicker and dry faster.

15. Naturally tackle dandruff and product build up with essential oils. This witch hazel scalp tonic recipe with essential oils works like a toner for your scalp to balance skin, target dandruff and fight itching. Simply spray onto your scalp after shampooing then rinse clean. Or add a few drops each of rosemary, peppermint, tea tree and lavender essential oils (up to 12 drops per ounce) to your regular everyday shampoo.

In a pinch you can also use two tablespoons apple cider mixed with once cup of water to remove build up and fight dandruff. Simply pour onto cleansed hair then follow with your usual conditioner.

16. Make a refreshing facial mist for parched skin without the heaviness of a moisturizer. Fill a spritzer bottle with water and a few strips of julienned cucumber or sprigs of lavender and mint. Spritz on your face and body when out in the summer heat to keep cool and refreshed.

17. Use honey as an antiseptic. Raw, dark honey is a natural antiseptic that not only heals and hydrates, but also reduces inflammation and inhibits infection. Create a simple face mask with just honey and yogurt and take five minutes out of your long day to let it do its work.

18. Exfoliate tired, rough skin with a body scrub. This quick recipe only requires three ingredients – all of which you may already have lurking in your pantry! For a one time use salt scrub, combine 5 Tablespoons sea salt, 1 Tablespoon olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice. Mix together then slather on to exfoliate and soften skin as well as help with hyperpigmentation. (Be cautious when heading out as lemon juice will increase your sensitivity to sunlight.) Or try one of these other amazing body scrub recipes.

29. Fight breakouts with apple cider vinegar. The high acid content of apple cider vinegar makes it perfect for fighting acne. Take ten minutes out of your day to steep a handful of clarifying parsley, then mix the cooled infusion in a spray bottle with a splash of vinegar and a few drops of tea tree oil.

20. Freeze aloe vera gel for quick sunburn relief. Use an ice cube tray to freeze aloe vera into cubes for instant sunburn relief all summer long. Use cold, caffeinated tea bags – like green tea – to soothe puffy under eye and calm inflammation. Simply apply tea bags to your eye area for about five minutes before putting on makeup.

21. Apply an unscented salve or beauty balm to your inner wrists and other pulse points before applying perfume to make the fragrance last longer. You can make your own simple salve recipe by melting 1 part beeswax with 3 parts carrier oil in a double boiler. Then mix the two ingredients together and pour into a tin or small jar. Or try one of the amazing natural fragrance fixatives in the base note(s) of your choice from Wild Veil Perfume.

22. Use argan oil to give your hair beautiful shine without making it look greasy. Apply a small amount of argan oil to the palm of your hand. Rub your hand together then massage into hair ends. Finish by smoothing your hands over hair from the roots to the ends.

What are your favorite beauty hacks and tips for your skin and hair care? Share your best beauty hacks in the comments!